Russia has a plan for a pre-emtive strike against N. Korea(if it is about to use nukes)

hani.co.kr ^ | 08/01/03 | Ryu Jae-hoon

[TigerLikesRooster]

/start my translation

Russia has a plan for a pre-emtive strike against N. Korea

Russia drew up a plan to mount an unilateral pre-emtive attack on N. Korean military facilities if a nuclear war is about to break out in Korea, according to the Russian daily Izvestia on July 31, 2003. This is to prevent radioactive fallouts in Russian Far East.

Quoting a high ranking official at Russian Defense Ministry, the paper reported that this plan was drawn up after an extensive study. The crux of the plan is to attack N. Korean nuclear facilities first, using ships from Russian Pacific Fleet, if there is an indication that N. Korea would use nuclear weapons.

Boris Kubai(sp?), the head of the weather bureau in Russian Far East, explained that, if there is a nuclear explosion in Korean peninsula, radioactive fallouts will descend on Russian Far East , including Vladivostok, within 2-3 hours. The danger is really high in Summer and Fall when wind blows from south-west.

Vladimir Demuchenko(sp?), the spokesman of Russian Defense Ministry refused to confirm this news, except saying that Russian military is ready for all external contingencies.

Last week, Russian Federal Emergency Bureau(?) held a meeting at Khabarovsk where they discussed the contingency plan for the possible Korean crisis. A government official, who attended this meeting, said, "The best way to safeguard Russian Far East is a pre-emtive strike against N. Korea. It is best for America to deal with any unusual acitivity of N. Korean military. However, if this does not work, Russian military has to take action."

Izvestia reported that the missile cruiser Varyag from the Pacific Fleet will lead this attack. The 11,200 ton ship carries 64 S300 ship-to-air missiles and 16 P500 ship-to-ship missiles, which can be used to attack N. Korean missile bases.

/end my translation

[TigerLikesRooster]

I guess that Russians want to make sure they won't have another Chernobyl in Russian Far East. On the other hand, this could also be a media blitz to nudge N. Korea into 6-way talks.

AmericanInTokyo first commented on this story at (reply 14, reply 19.) Later, I came across it in a S. Korean site which refered to this article in hani.co.kr. So I decided to post it here after translating it.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[FreedomCalls]

Way to go Putin!

[Elliott Jackalope]

If true, then this is quite interesting, and reminds me of the old joke that goes like this...

"You know what you have when you have a mothball in one hand and a mothball in the other hand? You have one moth's undivided attention!"

North Korea is now looking at the U.S. coming at them from one direction, and Russian missiles coming at them from another direction. I do believe we have one particular little moth's undivided attention.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #4

China reportedly also did a study on the invasion of N. Korea back in February. Kim Jong-il is getting a lot of attention for sure.

[Cyber Liberty]

I hope Putin clears all this with the French, the Germans and Tom Dasshole.

[scab4faa]

Hey everybody! Nuke em if ya got em!

[New Horizon]

Did you ever smell mothballs?

[VRWC_minion]

A strike based on a war breaking out is not a pre-emtive strike.

[FreeAtlanta]

All mentally-Ill ever wanted is a little attention. Now, I think he is getting more than he bargained for.

[RightWhale]

Does Russia have the capability without going nuclear itself?

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #11

I think so. They have a lot of conventional missiles and warplanes.

[1stFreedom]

Think of a band of friendly thieves. On the surface, they get along to varying degrees. Underneath, they are trying to pickpocket one another.

This is how I view the relationship between the US, China, and Russia. We might not be at cold war anymore, be we are still undermining each other in subtle and not so subtle ways.

At the same time, we have to deal with rouge nations which present a threat to the interests of all three countries. We should be backing each other up, which appears to be the case. After all, none of the three countries wants to be struck with a nukes or nuke fallout from N Korea. A multi tiered plan assures all countries that one way or another, rouge states will be neutralized.

Think of it as a good old boys club: rouge states need not apply to the nuclear club.

[Southack]

The Russians have enough chemical warheads to depopulate North Korea with ease, and they could even use substances that would dissipate before being blown back to Russia soil.

The pucker-factor in PyongYang must be pretty tight right about now!

[MattGarrett]

RUSSIA hits NORTH KOREA. CHINA RETALIATES. THE US RESPONDS IN SUPPORT OF RUSSIA. IRAN TAKES ADVANTAGE AND HITS ISREAL WHICH RESPONDS. PACKISTAN, NOT WANTING TO BE CAUGHT UNAWARE, DOES A PREEMPTIVE STIKE OF INDIA - WHICH REPONDS.

ADIOS MUCHACHOS.

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

A strike based on a war breaking out is not a pre-emtive strike.

Russia intends to stop an imminent NK/SK war from getting underway... that's why it's called pre-emption.

[RightWhale]

ADIOS

All this is being worked out through diplomatic channels. That's why the delay, just like Iraq.

[Olde School]

"THE US RESPONDS IN SUPPORT OF RUSSIA" ?

Not 100% sure about that part of your scenario.

[Monty22]

Talk about something I thought was IMPOSSIBLE in my lifetime!

USA and Russia joining forces against nk???